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Figure 1

La Belle et la Betteis a 1946 French Romantic Fantasy film directed by Jean Cocteau

based on the fairytale byMadame LePrince de Beaumount. The story of Beauty and the

Beast is an old tale of a young kind girl who is taken in place her fathers imprisonment in a

mystical castle where a beastly man lives. At first the beast seems to be heartless and evilbut through time does Belle learn to care for him as to see past his ugliness and embrace

the person underneath it all. As said by (Thatcher, 2013) Beauty and the Beast is a story

that teaches the incorruptibility of courage, patience, stoicism, understanding and above all

else, not judging a book by its cover . It is one story that has told countless times as it is

relatable a young woman

who stands up for her

rights and her fathers rights

as well as taking

responsibility as

a woman who needs towork for what she gets.

As well as no t marrying a

man she does not love all

these attributes make a

woman that is highly

regarded in our world

today.

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(Figure 2)

As you enter the strange world of the Beast and his castle you start to see shadows and

smoke which creates a mystical and magical feeling. One where it seems someone if

watching you. Its almost terrifying watching Belles father get lowered into the dark of the

castle. As he sits by the fire to warm himself he starts to notice how strange the castle truly

is, how there are eyes watching him and hands that wait on him. This creepy feeling is

lingered through the film accompanied by Georges Auric's memorable music didn't so

much underline the visuals as frequently cut across them, reaching a synthesis at vital

moments (Malcom, 1999).

The scene when Belle runs into the house to embrace her fait, you watch her in slow

motion as to capture her beauty and to be mesmerized by her. As she floats through the

enchanted castle dress swaying with every move as to imply Belle belongs as she herself

is so graceful so magical.

The world of the castle always makes you feel slightly far away from the fairytale disney

film as it is stylized in a way to give you that feeling that the Beasts wealth is a facade that

hides a lot of good and a lot of evil a metaphor that still plays a part when comparing this

to all wealth in a capitalist society. Hes done something very clever here even tears turn

to diamonds in the hands of Cocteau (Thatcher, 2013).

As the Beast (and also as the Young Prince and as the churlish suitor of the heroine),

JeanMarais has the grace of a dancer, (Crowther, 1947). Avenant plays the lovely young

man who wants to marry Belle and whom Belle loves but cannot marry as that would meanher leaving her father. Avenant soon turns bitter and is not the man Belle once knew.

Strangely enough when the Beast dies the magic cast onto him to make him ugly

disappears and turns him into the image of her Avenant, the man she loved before he

turned bad. This in itself is a the metaphor is beauty within, it remains a problem

because love is blind and no womans love can magically make a Prince of her

beast,(Thatcher, 2013). As the magic of the castle and the beast turned him into a

handsome man one that mirrored the image of the man Belle loves as this was her reward.

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Illustration Bibliography

Figure 1

http://lisathatcher.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/la-belle.jpg

Figure 2

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-

Fhx2XcQL1m4/UfhvM3M2IVI/AAAAAAAAHmA/sBXk_flpZ0I/s1600/jean_cocteau_la_belle

_et_la_bete_gallery_8.jpg

Bibliography

Thatcher, Lisa(2013) Film Review

http://lisathatcher.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/la-belle-et-la-bete-jean-cocteau-re-imagines-

fairytales-film-review/

(Accessed on 30-10-2013)

Malcom, Derek(July 1, 1999)

http://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/jul/01/1

(Accessed on 30-10-2013)

Crowther, Bosley(December 24, 1947).http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?

res=9B03EFD71E3EEE3BBC4C51DFB467838C659EDE

(Accessed on 30-10-2013)

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